Many of the ideas, understandings and behaviours of Westerners up to the present time can be understood better by an awareness of the Classical foundation. This solarguard section is an attempt concisely to communicate this situation. Solarguard Graeco-Roman was last updated on December 28, 2008 with minor editing of this index page. The last substantial addition was the summary of M. Cary's and E.H. Warmington's The Ancient Explorers added on December 26, 2008. In addition to that summary, this Graeco-Roman section of Solarguard presently offers brief reviews and notes on the Histories of Herodotus and Thucydides, on Xenophon's "Anabasis", on Appian's Civil Wars, on Cassius Dio's Books 50-52, on Rome's famous orator Cicero, on the Roman historians Livy and Tacitus, on Pliny the Younger's letters and on John Percival's book on the Roman villa. Here also are Michael McKenny's 1988 essay on Ptolemy and Seleucus, the beginning of a file on L. Sprague de Camp's Dragon of the Ishtar Gate and a link to the Perseus Greco-Roman resource page.
Michael McKenny's essay on Julian and some reviews of books concerning paganism in the Roman empire may be found in the pagan section. A few of Michael McKenny's translations of Latin poems may be seen in the poetry section.
Gaudeamus!
1. Herodotus Michael McKenny's brief review and a few notes of this earliest surviving Western historian.
2. Thucydides Michael McKenny's brief review and a note or so of this early Western historian.
3. Xenophon Michael McKenny's brief review of Xenophon's ANABASIS.
4. Appian's Civil Wars Michael McKenny's summary of Appian's work on the Roman civil wars.
5. Cassius Dio brief summary of books 50-52 of his Roman History. Book 52 is a studied consideration of some of the forms and procedures of the Roman Empire.
6. The Ancient Explorers summary of the fascinating study by M. Cary and E.H. Warmington.
7. The Dragon of the Ishtar Gate
Start of a file noting interesting points and placing together the poetry sprinkled throughout this L. Sprague de Camp historical novel.
8. Ptolemy and Seleucus Michael McKenny's 1988 essay, "On the Careers of Ptolemy and Seleucus after the Death of Alexander"
9. Cicero Michael McKenny's brief remarks on the famous Roman orator.
10. Livy Michael McKenny's brief comments on this popular Roman historian.
11. Tacitus Michael McKenny's brief note on this outstanding Roman historian.
12. Pliny's Letters Michael McKenny's brief remarks on Pliny the Younger's (c. 61-113 C.E.) interesting letters.
13. An Initial Consideration Michael McKenny's brief remarks on the Classical influence on current Western thought and action.
14. The Roman Villa First seven chapters of Percival's look at the topic.
Perseus Graeco-Roman resource page Link to a very valuable Classics Resource site.